Heavy Italian 18k Gold Chain
Early 2000s Chain Bracelets
White Gold
Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Chain Bracelets
Carnelian, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Chain Bracelets
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s Italian Chain Necklaces
18k Gold
Late 20th Century Modernist Chain Bracelets
Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Chain Bracelets
Gold, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Drop Necklaces
Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century Link Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Italian Artisan Rope Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1990s Italian Pendant Necklaces
Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s Italian Drop Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Etruscan Revival Pendant Necklaces
Coral, 18k Gold
Vintage 1930s Italian Arts and Crafts Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
20th Century Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Moonstone, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Modern Pendant Necklaces
Moonstone, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Bangles
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Modern Pendant Necklaces
Chrysoberyl, Amethyst, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1960s Italian Modernist Brooches
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Afghan Modern Pendant Necklaces
Tourmaline, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Belgian Modernist More Jewelry
Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 17th Century European Renaissance Pendant Necklaces
Sapphire, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Modern Chandelier Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Modern Pendant Necklaces
Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Rubelite, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Modern Pendant Necklaces
Tsavorite, Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Recent Sales
Mid-20th Century Italian Retro Chain Bracelets
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Vintage 1980s Italian Chain Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Chain Necklaces
18k Gold
Early 2000s Italian Victorian Chain Necklaces
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1940s Italian Retro Chain Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s Italian Retro Chain Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Modern Chain Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Retro Choker Necklaces
18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Retro Link Bracelets
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Mid-20th Century European Artisan Rope Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian More Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold
20th Century Italian Retro Clip-on Earrings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Retro Link Bracelets
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 2000s Italian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s Indian Modern Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold
2010s British Modern Pendant Necklaces
White Diamond, Quartz, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Italian Contemporary Link Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Chain Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Italian Chain Necklaces
18k Gold
2010s Australian Artisan Chain Necklaces
18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Chain Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s Italian Chain Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Italian Modern Chain Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Italian Chain Bracelets
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Italian Chain Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Contemporary Chain Necklaces
18k Gold
Late 20th Century Chain Bracelets
18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Chain Necklaces
18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Chain Necklaces
Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s Italian Chain Bracelets
Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1990s Chain Necklaces
18k Gold
Vintage 1960s Italian Contemporary Chain Bracelets
18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Italian Chain Necklaces
18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Italian Chain Necklaces
18k Gold, 24k Gold, Yellow Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1980s Italian Chain Necklaces
Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Chain Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Chain Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Italian Modern Chain Bracelets
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Italian Chain Necklaces
18k Gold
Vintage 1970s Italian Chain Necklaces
18k Gold
Vintage 1960s Italian Chain Necklaces
18k Gold
Early 2000s Italian Chain Necklaces
Topaz, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Vintage 1980s Italian Chain Necklaces
Emerald, 18k Gold
20th Century Italian Modern Chain Bracelets
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Early 2000s Italian Modernist Chain Necklaces
18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Link Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Italian Artisan Rope Necklaces
18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Link Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Link Necklaces
Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Modern Collectible Jewelry
Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Necklace Enhancers
18k Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Contemporary Link Necklaces
18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Link Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Link Bracelets
18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Victorian Charm Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Cuff Bracelets
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Retro Link Bracelets
Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Italian Link Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
People Also Browsed
Early 2000s Contemporary Link Bracelets
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Contemporary Link Bracelets
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Stud Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Charm Bracelets
Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century Modernist Link Bracelets
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Chain Bracelets
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Link Bracelets
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Art Deco Wedding Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s French Retro Retro Bracelets
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Contemporary Link Bracelets
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Contemporary Link Bracelets
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Turkish Modern Bridal Rings
Garnet, 14k Gold
Early 2000s Italian Contemporary Link Bracelets
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s Chain Necklaces
18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Emerald, Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Heavy Italian 18k Gold Chain For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Heavy Italian 18k Gold Chain?
Why Gold Shines in Jewelry Craftsmanship
Gold is the feel-good metal, the serotonin of jewelry. Wear vintage and antique gold necklaces, watches, gold bracelets or gold rings and you feel happy, you feel dressed, you feel, well, yourself.
Gold, especially yellow gold, with its rich patina and ancient pedigree going back thousands of years, is the steady standby, the well-mannered metal of choice. Any discussion of this lustrous metal comes down to a basic truth: Gold is elementary, my dear. Gold jewelry that couples the mystique of the metal with superb design and craftsmanship achieves the status of an enduring classic. Many luxury houses have given us some of our most treasured and lasting examples of gold jewelry over the years.
Since its founding, in 1837, Tiffany & Co. has built its reputation on its company jewelry as well as its coterie of boutique designers, which has included Jean Schlumberger, Donald Claflin, Angela Cummings and Elsa Peretti. There are numerous gold Tiffany classics worth citing. Some are accented with gemstones, but all stand out for their design and the workmanship displayed.
For the woman who prefers a minimalist look, the Tiffany & Co. twist bangle (thin, slightly ovoid) is stylishly simple. For Cummings devotees, signature pieces feature hard stone inlay, such as her pairs of gold ear clips inlaid with black jade (a play on the classic Chanel black and tan), or bangles whose design recalls ocean waves, with undulating lines of lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl. And just about any design by the great Jean Schlumberger is by definition a classic.
Even had he eschewed stones and diamonds, Southern-born David Webb would be hailed for the vast arsenal of heavy gold jewelry he designed. Gold, usually hammered or textured in some manner, defines great David Webb jewelry. The self-taught jeweler made very au courant pieces while drawing inspiration from ancient and out-of-the-way sources — East meets West in the commanding gold necklaces made by Webb in the early 1970s. The same could be said for his endlessly varied gold cuffs.
In Europe, many houses have given us gold jewelry that sets the highest standard for excellence, pieces that were highly sought after when they were made and continue to be so.
Numerous designs from Cartier are homages to gold. There are the classic Trinity rings, necklaces and bracelets — trifectas of yellow, white and rose gold. As a testament to the power of love, consider the endurance of the Cartier Love bracelet.
Aldo Cipullo, Cartier’s top in-house designer from the late 1960s into the early ’70s, made history in 1969 with the Love bracelet. Cipullo frequently said that the Love bracelet was born of a sleepless night contemplating a love affair gone wrong and his realization that “the only remnants he possessed of the romance were memories.” He distilled the urge to keep a loved one close into a slim 18-karat gold bangle.
BVLGARI and its coin jewelry, gemme nummarie, hit the jackpot when the line launched in the 1960s. The line has been perennially popular. BVLGARI coin jewelry features ancient Greek and Roman coins embedded in striking gold mounts, usually hung on thick link necklaces of varying lengths. In the 1970s, BVLGARI introduced the Tubogas line, most often made in yellow gold. The Tubogas watches are classics, and then there is the Serpenti, the house's outstanding snake-themed watches and bracelets.
A collection called Monete that incorporated the gold coins is one of several iconic BVLGARI lines that debuted in the 1970s and ’80s, catering to a new generation of empowered women. Just as designers like Halston and Yves Saint Laurent were popularizing fuss-free ready-to-wear fashion for women on the go, BVLGARI offered jewels to be lived in.
Since Van Cleef & Arpels opened its Place Vendôme doors in 1906, collection after collection of jewelry classics have enchanted the public. As predominantly expressed in a honeycomb of gold, there is the Ludo watch and accessories, circa the 1920s, and the golden Zip necklace, 1951, whose ingenious transformation of the traditional zipper was originally proposed by the Duchess of Windsor. Van Cleef's Alhambra, with its Moroccan motif, was introduced in 1968 and from the start its popularity pivoted on royalty and celebrity status. It remains one of VCA’s most popular and collected styles.
Mention must be made of Buccellati, whose name is synonymous with gold so finely spun that it suggests tapestry. The house’s many gold bracelets, typically embellished with a few or many diamonds, signified taste and distinction and are always in favor on the secondary market. Other important mid-20th-century houses known for their gold-themed jewelry include Hermès and Ilias Lalaounis.
Find a stunning collection of vintage and antique gold jewelry on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 30, 2024How much your 18K gold chain is worth depends on several factors. As a material, 18-karat gold typically fetches a higher price than 14-karat and 10-karat gold on the scrap market because it contains more pure gold. When selling a piece for scrap, the length, thickness and weight of your chain will determine how much you can expect to receive for it. It's also possible that your chain may be worth more than the going scrap rate due to its style, maker, age and other characteristics. Consequently, you may wish to have a certified appraiser or knowledgeable jeweler evaluate your jewelry before you sell it. On 1stDibs, shop a wide range of gold chains.